Detachable connecting device



T. J. KEHOE.

DETACHABLE CONNECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,19l7.

Patented May 3, 19 21.

31404214 Thomas K UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS KEHOE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OVERLAND COM- PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DETACHABLE CONNECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed July 30, 1917. Serial No. 183,590.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs J. KnHon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Connecting Devices, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in detachable connecting devices.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved detachable connection by means of which a removable pillar, such as is used in supporting the windows in what is known as touring sedan construction, may be connected to a permanent part of the automobile such as the body or the rmanent top.

A further object of my invention is to provide a detachable connection between a removable pillar and the body of such a nature as to permit of the quick and easy removal of the pillar and separation of the parts of the connecting device, and of such a nature as to provide for securing the pillars under a longitudinally directed tension.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. My invention 1s clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure I is a view in side elevation of a motor vehicle body embodying my invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a detail, sectional, fragmentary view, corresponding to Fig. II, but showing the parts of the detachable connecting device separated.

Fig. IV is a detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. II, and,

Fig. V is a plan view of the blank from which the keeper member of the detachable connecting device is constructed.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawlng, I have shown a motor vehicle body 10 provided with a permanent top 11 and removable pillars 12, which are detachably connected at top and bottom to the body 10 and the top 11 respectively, and which serve as guides for the windows 13. The detachable connection, which forms the subject matter of the present invention, may be applied to connect either the lower end of the removable pillar to the body, or the upper end of the pillar to the top, as may be desired, and any style of releasable fastening device may be provided at the other end of the pillar. The recess 14 is provided in the end of the pillar 12, which recess is covered by a face plate having a horizontal portion 16, and a vertical portion 15, said face plate being secured to the pillar by means of screws or other suitable fastening devices. An opening 17 is provided in the horizontal portion 16 of the face plate, said opening being rectangular or non-circular in form and the rectangular or noncircular portion of a bolt being slidably mounted in said opening 17. The other end of said bolt is cylindrical and threaded at 19 so as to receive the nut 20, which is screwed thereon. A spring 28 is compressed between the nut 20 and the horizontal portion 16 of the face plate. The head'18 of the bolt, which is rectangular or non-circular in cross section, is provided with laterally projecting pins 21.

A recess, similar to the recess 14, is provided in thebody and said recess is covered by a face plate having the horizontal slot at is formed in said face plate, partly in the vertical portion and partly in the horizontal portion and a cross slot 25 is formed in the vertical portion 22 of the face plate, communicating with one end of the slot 24, as is clearly shown in Fig. V. Blocks 26 are secured to the inner face of the horizontal portion 23 of the face plate, adjacent the edges of the slot 24, and

portion 23 and the vertical portion 22. A

V I claim as new and said blocks have curved or cam faces 27, as shown in Fig. II of the drawing, which curved faces are adapted to be engaged by the laterally projecting pins 21, when the detachable connecting device is in place.

From the description of the parts given above, the operation of this device should be very readily understood. In Fig. II, I have shown the parts in position to connect the pillar to the body. When it is desired to remove the pillar, the detachable connecting device at the top of the pillar is released and the pillar is then swung inwardly and downwardly, pivoting on the laterally projecting pins 21, which rock on the curved edges 27 of the blocks 26. The spring 28 allows the pillar to move sufliciently relative to the bolt so as to permit the pillar to turn to a position such as is shown in Fig. III of the drawing. The pillar can be moved down until the pins 21 are brought in line with the cross slot 25, when the connecting device can be completely separated by moving laterally so as to cause the projecting pins 21 to pass through the cross slot 25. WVhen it is desired to connect the parts of this detachable connecting device together, the head of the bolt is first passed through the cross slot 25 and the face plate carrying the bolt and the spring is then turned relative to the fixed face plate, to cause the pins 21 to seat themselves in the uppermost portions of the curved edges of the blocks 26. The spring 28 allows the face plate to move on the bolt so as to permit of such movement. When the pillar is seated in position with the horizontal portion 16 ofthe movable plate engaging the horizontal portion 23 of the fixed face plate, the spring 28 serves to pull the bolt 18 upwardly, so as to hold the pins 21 in engagement with the curved seats 26, so that the parts are held rigidly together due to the longitudinally directed tension of the spring 28. I

I- am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, which I have here shown and described, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention. I have found, however, that this embodiment is desirable from many standpoints, and, therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically, as well as broadly, as indicated by the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what desire to secure by Letters Patentis i p 1.111 a device of the class described, the combination of two members movable relatively to each other; a spring-pressed bolt, slidably but non-rotatably carried by one of said members, and having a head provided,v with laterally projecting pins; a keeper plate carried by the other of said members, and provided with an elongated slot and a cross slot communicating therewith; and a pair of blocks secured to the inner side of said. keeper plate, adjacent to the edges of said slot, and provided with curved faces, adapted to be engaged by said laterally projecting pins.

2. A device of the class described comprising the combination of two members movable relative to each other; a face plate carried by one of said members; a spring pressed bolt slidably mounted in said face plate, and provided with a head having laterally projecting pins; a keeper plate carried by the other of said members, and provided with an elongated slot, in which the head of said bolt is adapted to move, and with a cross slot through which said pins are adapted to pass; and blocks having curved faces secured to said keeper plate, adjacent the edges of said elongated slot, said curved faces being adapted to be engaged by said laterally projecting pins.

I 3. A device of the class described comprising the combination of two members movable relatively to each other; a bolt slidably carried by one of said members and normally held under spring tension, said bolt having a head provided with laterally projecting pins; a keeper plate carried by the other of said members'and having portions extending at right angles to each other, communicating slots being provided in said portions and a cross slot being provided in one of said portions communicating with the end of said slot, said pins being adapted to pass through said cross slot.

,4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fixed member and a removable member, of means for detachably securing said members together comprising a slidable bolt carried by said removable member and having a head provided with pins projecting laterally therefrom in opposite, directions, a coil spring surrounding said bolt, a keeper carried by said fixed member and provided with a slot permitting the passage of said pins within said keeper, and means within said keeper arranged to cooperate with said pins to move said bolt in opposition to said spring when said removable member is moved to operative posltion.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fixed member and a removable member, of means for detachably securing said members together comprising a slidable bolt carried by said removable member and having a laterally extending ofiset portion, a coil spring surrounding said bolt, and a keeper carried by said fixed member and having means engageable with said offset portion for moving said bolt in opposition to said spring whensaid' removable member is moved to operative position,

said keeper being constructed to prevent lateral displacement from operative position of said removable member in either direction.

6. A device of the class described comprising the combination of two members movable relatively to each other, a bolt slidably carried by one of said members and normally held under spring tension, said bolt having a head provided with laterally projecting pins, a keeper plate carried by the other of said members and having portions extending at right angles to each other, communicating slots being provided in said portions, a cross slot being provided in one of said portions communicating with the end of said slot, said pins being adapted to pass through said cross slot, and means carried by said keeper plate for causing said sprin tension on said bolt.

7. n a device of the class described, the combination with a fixed member and a removable member, of means for detachably securing the removable member to the fixed member by turning it through an angle, said means comprising a curved cam track carried by one member and resilient means for engaging said cam track carried by the other member, said cam track being constructed to put the resilient means under greater tension at the end of the angular movement than at its beginning, whereby said members will be firmly held together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS J. KEHOE. 

